I'm not getting too concerned over this report that the Pac-10 has the "OK to expand."
The Pac-10 has been wanting to
form a TV alliance with the Big 12 for a while now. With Nebraska and Missouri leaving the Big 12, two large assets (Nebraska's national TV draw and Missouri's regional draw) are gone. So it's in the Pac-10's interest to keep the Big 12 intact.
I have no doubt that if the Big 10 formed a 16-team superconference that the SEC would follow suit, forcing the hand of the Pac-10 to merge or add teams or whatever. The Pac-10's motivation is two-fold - 1) it's better to lead than follow in this climate. Conferences who move quick could have the edge in adding the bigger names like Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, etc. So it behooves the Pac-10 not to sit on their duff and watch the action. 2) by rattling their saber like this, the Pac-10 could force the Big 12 to remain whole, quashing the Big 10's expansion efforts and maintaining the status quo in college football, while at the same time keeping their hopes of a TV merger alive.
Getting the OK to expand is like getting permission to try and get in Sweet Mary Jane's Daisy Dukes by her older brother. He won't beat you up, but you still have to convince Sweet Mary Jane that you're the love of her life - at least for one night. Unfortunately for the Pac-10, Sweet Mary Jane's daddy (the role of Sweet Mary Jane's daddy will be played by the Texas legislature this evening) has a shotgun, and he's got some stipulations that go along with conjugating with his daughter - namely, taking care of her ugly sister, Baylor. The Pac-10 has to weigh their options and decide whether Sweet Mary Jane's crown jewels are worth giving up your principles with a Baylor.
Easier said than done.